Led lighting arrangement including light emitting phosphor

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing an LED lighting arrangement, comprises: receiving an optical component having a diffusing material that is light diffusive and at least one photoluminescent material that is excitable by light of a first wavelength range and which emits light of a second wavelength range; receiving an LED assembly that is operable to generate the light of the first wavelength range and mounting the optical component to the LED assembly to form the LED lighting arrangement. The optical component having the diffusing and photoluminescent materials is mass produced separately from the LED assembly and can be selected such that light generated by the optical component combined with the light generated by the LED assembly corresponds to light of a selected color. Also disclosed are LED lighting arrangements, components for LED lighting arrangements and methods of fabricating an optical component.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/640,533, filed Dec. 15, 2006 by Yi-Qun Li, entitled “LED LightingArrangement Including Light Emitting Phosphor” which claims the benefitof priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/835,601, filed Aug.3, 2006 by Yi-Qun Li, entitled “Phosphor Containing Optical Componentsfor LED Illumination Systems,” all of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to solid-state lighting applications whichcomprise light emitting diodes (LEDs) which include a light emittingphosphor, photoluminescent material, to generate light of a desiredcolor, that is in a different part of the wavelength spectrum from theLEDs. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention concernsLED-based lighting arrangements which generate light in the visible partof the spectrum and in particular, although not exclusively white light.Moreover the invention provides an optical component for such a lightingarrangement and methods of fabricating a lighting arrangement and anoptical component. Furthermore the invention provides a phosphormaterial for coating an optical component or as a part of opticaldesigns in lighting arrangements.

2. State of the Art

In the context of this patent application light is defined aselectromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range 300 nm (Ultraviolet) to1000 nm (Infrared). Primarily, although not exclusively the inventionconcerns lighting arrangements which emit light in the visible part ofthe spectrum that is 380 to 750 nm.

White light emitting diodes (LEDs) are known in the art and are arelatively recent innovation. It was not until LEDs emitting in theblue/ultraviolet of the electromagnetic spectrum were developed that itbecame practical to develop white light sources based on LEDs. As isknown white light generating LEDs (“white LEDs”) include a phosphor,that is a photoluminescent material, which absorbs a portion of theradiation emitted by the LED and re-emits radiation of a different color(wavelength). For example the LED emits blue light in the visible partof the spectrum and the phosphor re-emits yellow light. Alternativelythe phosphor can emit a combination of green and red light, green andyellow or yellow and red light. The portion of the visible blue lightemitted by the LED which is not absorbed by the phosphor mixes with theyellow light emitted to provide light which appears to the eye as beingwhite. A known yellow phosphor is a YAG-based phosphor having a mainemission wavelength peak that varies in wavelength range from 530 to 590nm depending on the composition of the phosphors. Further examples ofphosphors are described in our co-pending patent application US2006/0028122 in which the photoluminescent materials have a formulaA₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺D where A is a divalent metal selected from the groupconsisting of Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd and D is a dopant selected fromthe group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N. Such phosphors emitlight of intensities that are greater than either known YAG compounds orsilicate-based phosphors.

It is predicted that white LEDs could potentially replace incandescentlight sources due to their long operating lifetimes, typically many100,000 of hours, and their high efficiency. Already high brightnessLEDs are used in vehicle brake lights and indicators as well as trafficlights and flash lights.

To increase the intensity of light emitted from an LED it is known toinclude a lens made of a plastics material or glass to focus the lightemission and to thereby increase intensity. Referring to FIG. 1 a highbrightness white LED 2 is shown. The LED 2 comprises an LED chip 4 whichis mounted within a plastic or metal reflection cup 6 and the LED chipis then encapsulated within an encapsulating material, typically anepoxy resin 8. The encapsulation material includes the phosphor materialfor providing color conversion. Typically the inner surface of the cup 6is silvered to reflect stray light towards a lens 10 which is mounted onthe surface of the encapsulating epoxy resin 8.

The inventor has appreciated that such an arrangement has limitationsand the present invention arose in an endeavor to mitigate, at least inpart, these limitations. For example for high intensity LEDs having ahigh intensity output larger than 1 W, the high temperature at theoutput of the LED combined with its close proximity the phosphormaterial can give rise to a light characteristic which is temperaturedependent and in some cases thermal degradation of the phosphor materialcan occur. Moreover the uniformity of color of light emitted by suchLEDs can be difficult to maintain with the phosphor distributed withinthe epoxy resin since light passing through different path lengths willencounter and be absorbed by differing amounts of phosphor. Furthermorethe fabrication of such LEDs is time consuming due to the encapsulationand subsequent placement of the lens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided alighting arrangement comprising: a radiation source configured to emitradiation having a first wavelength range; a phosphor configured toabsorb at least a portion of said first wavelength range radiation andemit radiation having a second wavelength range; and an opticalcomponent through which at least said first wavelength range radiationpasses, characterized in that the phosphor is provided on a surface ofthe optical component. The invention provides the advantage of reducingthe manufacturing steps and hence cost and also provides a more uniformcolor of output light.

Advantageously the phosphor is provided as a substantially uniformthickness layer on said surface of the optical component. Such anarrangement ensures a more uniform color of emitted light.

The optical component can have a number of forms and typically comprisesa lens for focusing the radiation to increase the intensity of theemitted light. Alternatively the optical component can be for directingthe radiation thus acting as a waveguide or as a window through whichthe radiation passes. The phosphor can be provided on inner or outersurfaces of the optical component and this will determine whether saidsecond wavelength range radiation also passes through the opticalcomponent. For example in one implementation the optical component has asubstantially planar surface and the phosphor is provided on saidsubstantially planar surface. An advantage of applying the phosphor tothe planar surface is that it is easier to produce a uniform thicknesslayer. Alternatively the optical component can have a convex or concavesurface and the phosphor is provided on said convex or concave surfaces.

In one implementation the optical component has a substantiallyhemispherical surface and the phosphor is provided on said hemisphericalsurface. Preferably, the optical component comprises a substantiallyhemispherical shell and the phosphor is provided on the innerhemispherical surface. Alternatively the phosphor can be provided on atleast a part of the outer hemispherical surface. In a furtheralternative embodiment the optical component comprises a substantiallyspherical shell and the phosphor is provided on at least a part of theinner or outer spherical surfaces. Such a form finds particularapplication as a light source for replacing incandescent light sources.In yet a further embodiment the optical component comprises a hollowcylinder and the phosphor is provided on at least a part of the inner orouter surfaces.

Advantageously, the optical component is made of a plastics materialsuch as a polycarbonate and silicone or a glass such as a silica-basedglass. The optical component comprises a material which is at leastsubstantially transparent to said first wavelength range radiation andwhere the phosphor is provided on an inner surface of the component thematerial is further substantially transparent to the second wavelengthrange radiation.

In a preferred implementation the phosphor comprises a powder which isincorporated within an epoxy resin, a silicone material or a polymermaterial to form a mixture and the phosphor mixture is then applied tothe optical component to form a layer of phosphor on the opticalcomponent surface. To improve the uniformity of light emitted from thelighting arrangement the phosphor mixture advantageously furtherincorporates a light diffusing material such as titanium oxide, silica,alumina, etc. Such a light diffusing material has as low an absorptionof light as possible.

The phosphor advantageously comprises a phosphor which emits luminescentlight when illuminated by radiation in wavelength range from 300 nm to550 nm. One example of the phosphor advantageously comprises a YAG-basedphosphor which comprises a photoluminescent material having a formula(YA)₃(AlB)₅(OC)₁₂:Ce³⁺ where A is a trivalent metal selected from thegroup comprising Gd, Tb, La, Sm or divalent metal ions such as Sr, Ca,Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd, B comprising Si, B, P, and Ga and C is a dopantselected from the group comprising F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N. In anotherimplementation the phosphor comprises a photoluminescent material havinga formula A₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺D where A is a divalent metal selected from thegroup comprising Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd and D is a dopant selectedfrom the group comprising F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N.

In yet a further embodiment an orange-red silicate-based phosphor havinga formula (SrM1)₃Si(OD)₅:Eu where M1 is selected from the groupcomprising Ba, Ca, Mg, Zn . . . and where D is selected from the groupcomprising F, Cl, S, and N. Such a phosphor is advantageously used foremitting light in a wavelength range from green to yellow (580 to 630nm).

Alternatively the phosphor comprises a red silicon nitride basedphosphor having a formula (SrM1)Si₅N₈ where M1 is selected from thegroup comprising Sr, Ca, Mg, and Zn.

In another embodiment the phosphor comprises a red sulfate basedphosphor having a formula of (SrM1)S where M1 is selected from the groupcomprising Ca, Ba, and Mg.

In yet another embodiment the phosphor can comprise a green sulfatebased phosphor having a formula of (SrM1)(GaM2)₂S₄:Eu where M1 isselected from the group comprising Ca, Ba, and Mg, and M2 is selectedfrom the group comprising Al and In.

Preferably, the radiation source comprises a light emitting diode,advantageously a Gallium Nitride based LED.

The present invention finds particular application for white lightsources and the radiation source is operable to emit radiation having awavelength range of 300 to 500 nm. Preferably, the phosphor compositionis configured to emit radiation having a wavelength ranging from 450 to700 nm.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided anoptical component for a lighting arrangement of a type comprising aradiation source configured to emit radiation having a first wavelengthrange; a phosphor configured to absorb at least a portion of said firstwavelength range radiation and emit radiation having a second wavelengthrange; and said optical component configured such that at least saidfirst wavelength range radiation passes through the optical component,and characterized in that said phosphor is provided on a surface of saidoptical component.

Such an optical component provides the advantages of reducing themanufacturing steps and hence cost and emits a more uniform color light.Moreover such an optical component can be used to provide direct colorconversion in an LED arrangement.

To ensure the uniformity of color of light generated by the opticalcomponent, the phosphor is advantageously provided as a substantiallyuniform thickness layer on said surface of the optical component.

For ease of fabrication the optical component preferably has asubstantially planar surface and the phosphor is provided on saidsubstantially planar surface. Alternatively, the optical component has aconvex or concave surface and the phosphor is provided on said convex orconcave surfaces by for example spraying or printing related coatingmethods.

In one implementation the optical component has a substantiallyhemispherical surface and the phosphor is provided on said hemisphericalsurface. The optical component can comprise a substantiallyhemispherical shell and the phosphor is provided on the innerhemispherical surface. Such an arrangement provides environmentalprotection of the phosphor. Alternatively, the phosphor is provided onthe outer hemispherical surface. In a further embodiment the opticalcomponent comprises a substantially spherical shell and the phosphor isprovided on at least a part of the inner or outer spherical surfaces. Inyet a further implementation the optical component comprises a hollowcylinder and the phosphor is provided on at least a part of the inner orouter surfaces.

Preferably, the phosphor comprises a powder which is incorporated withinan epoxy resin, a silicone material or a polymer material to form amixture and then the phosphor mixture is applied to the opticalcomponent to form a layer of phosphor on the optical component surface.To ensure a uniform light intensity output the phosphor mixtureadvantageously further comprises a light diffusing material.

Preferably, the optical component is fabricated from a plastics materialor a glass.

The phosphor advantageously comprises a photoluminescent material havinga formula A₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺D where A is a divalent metal selected from thegroup comprising Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd and D is a dopant selectedfrom the group comprising F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N.

According to third aspect of the invention there is provided a method offabricating a lighting arrangement comprising: providing a radiationsource configured to emit radiation having a first wavelength range andan optical component through which said radiation passes; and providingon a surface of the optical component a phosphor configured to absorb atleast a portion of said first wavelength range radiation and emitradiation having a second wavelength range.

Advantageously the method further comprises providing the phosphor as asubstantially uniform thickness layer on said surface of the opticalcomponent.

The optical component can have a substantially planar surface, convex orconcave surfaces and the method comprises providing the phosphor on saidsubstantially planar surface, convex or concave surfaces.

In one implementation the optical component has a substantiallyhemispherical surface and the method comprises providing the phosphor onsaid hemispherical surface. Preferably, the optical component comprisesa substantially hemispherical shell and the method comprises providingthe phosphor on the inner or outer hemispherical surfaces.Alternatively, the optical component can comprise a substantiallyspherical shell and the method comprises providing the phosphor on atleast a part of the inner or outer spherical surfaces. In a furtheralternative arrangement the optical component comprises a hollowcylinder and the method comprises providing the phosphor on at least apart of the inner or outer surfaces.

The optical component is preferably fabricated from a plastics materialor glass.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of fabricating an optical component for a lighting arrangement ofa type comprising a radiation source configured to emit radiation havinga first wavelength range; a phosphor configured to absorb at least aportion of said first wavelength range radiation and emit radiationhaving a second wavelength range; and said optical component beingconfigured such that at least said first wavelength range radiationpasses through the optical component the method comprising providingsaid phosphor on a surface of the optical component.

To ensure uniform color conversion the method advantageously comprisesproviding the phosphor as a substantially uniform thickness layer.

When the optical component has a substantially planar surface the methodpreferably comprises providing the phosphor on said substantially planarsurface.

Alternatively where the optical component has a convex or concavesurface the method can comprise providing the phosphor on said convex orconcave surfaces.

In yet a further alternative arrangement the optical component has asubstantially hemispherical surface and the method comprises providingthe phosphor on said hemispherical surface. Where the optical componentcomprises a substantially hemispherical shell the method comprisesproviding the phosphor on the inner or outer hemispherical surfaces.Moreover where the optical component comprises a substantially sphericalshell the method comprises providing the phosphor on at least a part ofthe inner or outer spherical surfaces. Alternatively the opticalcomponent can comprise a hollow cylinder and the method comprisesproviding the phosphor on at least a part of the inner or outersurfaces.

In a preferred method the phosphor comprises a powder and the methodcomprises incorporating the phosphor within an epoxy resin or siliconematerial or polymer material to form a mixture and then applying thephosphor mixture to the optical component to form a layer of phosphor onthe optical component surface. The mixture can be applied by paintingthe mixture onto the surface of the optical component, spraying or otherknown deposition techniques. When the phosphor is to be applied to aplanar surface the optical component is then advantageously spun or tapecasting to distribute the mixture uniformly over the surface to therebyensure a uniform thickness of phosphor forms.

Advantageously the method further comprises incorporating a lightdiffusing material, for example titanium oxide, silica, alumina in thephosphor mixture. Alternatively the light diffusing material can beprovided as a separate layer.

Advantageously, the phosphor comprises a photoluminescent materialhaving a formula A₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺D where A is a divalent metal selected fromthe group comprising Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd and D is a dopantselected from the group comprising F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N.

The method further comprises fabricating the optical component from aplastics material or glass.

For ease of fabrication, and in accordance with a particularly preferredmethod of the invention a plurality of optical components in the form ofan array, said array of optical components having a common planarsurface, and said phosphor is deposited on the planar surface.Advantageously, the phosphor is provided as a substantially uniformthickness layer on said planar surface of the array of opticalcomponents.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided aphosphor material for coating an optical component of an LED comprisinga phosphor powder incorporated within an epoxy resin, a siliconematerial or a polymer material. Advantageously the phosphor materialfurther incorporates a light diffusing material.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention there isprovided an optical component for a lighting arrangement of a typecomprising a radiation source configured to emit radiation having afirst wavelength range; a phosphor configured to absorb at least aportion of said first wavelength range radiation and emit radiationhaving a second wavelength range; and said optical component beingconfigured such that at least said first wavelength range radiationpasses through the optical component, and characterized in that saidphosphor is incorporated in said optical component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a known white LED as alreadydescribed;

FIGS. 2 to 7 are schematic representations of LED lighting arrangementsin accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a method of fabricating anoptical component for an LED lighting arrangement in accordance with theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In order that the present invention is better understood, embodiments ofthe invention will now be described by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a LED lighting arrangement 20 inaccordance with the invention. The LED lighting arrangement 20 is forgenerating light of a selected color for example white light. Thelighting arrangement comprises a LED chip 22, preferably a GalliumNitride chip, which is operable to produce light, radiation, preferablyof wavelength in a range 300 to 500 nm. The LED chip 22 is mountedinside a stainless steel enclosure or reflection cup 24 which hasmetallic silver deposited on its inner surface to reflect light towardsthe output of the lighting arrangement. A convex lens 26 is provided tofocus light output from the arrangement. In the example illustrated thelens 26 is substantially hemispherical in form. The lens 26 can be madeof a plastics material such as polycarbonates or glass such as silicabased glass or any material substantially transparent to the wavelengthsof light generated by the LED chip 22.

In the embodiment in FIG. 2 the lens 26 has a planar, substantiallyflat, surface 28 onto which there is provided a layer of phosphor 30before the lens is mounted to the enclosure 22. The phosphor 30preferably comprises a photoluminescent material having a formulaA₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺D where A is a divalent metal selected from the groupcomprising Sr (Strontium), Ca (Calcium), Ba (Barium), Mg (Magnesium), Zn(Zinc) and Cd (Cadmium) and D is a dopant selected from the groupcomprising F (Fluorine), Cl (Chlorine), Br (Bromine), I (Iodine), P(Phosphorous), S (Sulfur) and N (Nitrogen) as disclosed in ourco-pending patent application US 2006/0028122 the content of which ishereby incorporated by way of reference thereto. The phosphor which isin the form of a powder is mixed with an adhesive material such as epoxyor a silicone resin, or a transparent polymer material and the mixtureis then applied to the surface of the lens to provide the phosphor layer30. The mixture can be applied by painting, dropping or spraying orother deposition techniques which will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Moreover the phosphor mixture preferably furtherincludes a light diffusing material such as titanium oxide, silica oralumina to ensure a more uniform light output.

The color of light emitted from the lighting arrangement can becontrolled by appropriate selection of the phosphor composition as wellas the thickness of the phosphor layer which will determine theproportion of output light originating from the phosphor. To ensure auniform output color the phosphor layer is preferably of uniformthickness and has a typical thickness in a range 20 to 500 μm.

An advantage of the lighting arrangement of the invention is that nophosphor need be incorporated within the encapsulation materials in theLED package. Moreover the color of the light output by the arrangementcan be readily changed by providing a different lens having anappropriate phosphor layer. This enables large scale production of acommon laser package. Moreover such a lens provides direct colorconversion in an LED lighting arrangement.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown an LED lighting arrangement inaccordance with a further embodiment in which the phosphor 30 isprovided as a layer on the outer convex surface 32 of the lens 26. Inthis embodiment the lens 26 is dome shaped in form.

FIG. 4 shows an LED lighting arrangement in accordance with a furtherembodiment in which the lens 26 comprises a substantially hemisphericalshell and the phosphor 30 is provided on the inner surface 34 of thelens 26. An advantage of providing the phosphor on the inner surface isthat the lens 26 then provides environmental protection for the LED andphosphor. Alternatively the phosphor can be applied as a layer of theouter surface of the lens 26 (not shown).

FIG. 5 illustrates an LED arrangement in which the lens 26, opticalcomponent, comprises a substantially spherical shell and the phosphor 30is deposited as a layer on at least a part of the inner 36 or outerspherical 38 surfaces and the LED chip 22 is mounted within thespherical shell. To ensure uniform emission of radiation a plurality ofLED chips are advantageously incorporated in which the chip are orientedsuch that they each emit light in differing directions. Such a form ispreferred as a light source for replacing existing incandescent lightsources (light bulbs).

Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown a further arrangement in which theoptical component 26 comprises a hollow cylindrical form and thephosphor is applied to the inner 40 or outer 42 curved surfaces. In suchan arrangement the laser chip preferably comprises a linear array oflaser chips that are arranged along the axis of the cylinder.Alternatively the lens 26 can comprise a solid cylinder (not shown).

FIG. 7 shows an LED arrangement in which the optical component comprisea solid substantially spherical lens 26 and the phosphor is provided onat least a part of the spherical surface 44. In a preferred arrangement,as illustrated, the phosphor is applied to only a portion of thesurface, which surface is then mounted within the volume defined by theenclosure. By mounting the lens 26 in this way this providesenvironmental protection of the phosphor 30.

Referring to FIG. 8 there is shown a preferred method of fabricatinglenses in accordance with the invention. An array of lenses 46 isprovided in which the lenses have a common planar surface 48 onto whichthe phosphor 30 is provided. In the example illustrated the lenses 36are substantially hemispherical in form. After the phosphor has beendeposited the lenses can be separated and mounted to the LED assemblies.Such a method is found to be particularly advantageous for massproduction of the optical components.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted tothe specific embodiments described and that modifications can be madewhich are within the scope of the invention. For example although in theforegoing description reference is made to a lens the phosphor can bedeposited onto other optical components such as for example a windowthrough which light passes though is not necessarily focused or directedor a waveguide which guides, directs, light. Moreover the opticalcomponent can have many forms which will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

It will be appreciated that the phosphor and LED chip can be selecteddepending on the intended application to provide light of a desiredcolor. It is also envisaged to provide two or more phosphor materials toachieve the desired color, spectral content, of emitted light. Thedifferent phosphors can be provided by mixing the powdered material andincorporating them within a single layer or alternatively by providingmultiple layers of different phosphors.

Examples of preferred phosphors are:

-   -   YAG-based phosphors which comprising a photoluminescent material        having a formula (YA)₃(AlB)₅(OC)₁₂:Ce³⁺ where A is a trivalent        metal selected from the group comprising Gd (Gadolinium), Tb        (Terbium), La (Lanthanum), Sm (Samarium) or divalent metal ions        such as Sr (Strontium), Ca (Calcium), Ba (Barium), Mg        (Magnesium), Zn (Zinc) and Cd (Cadmium), B comprising Si        (Silicon), B (Boron), P (phosphorous), and Ga (Gadolinium) and C        is a dopant selected from the group comprising F (Fluorine), Cl        (Chlorine), Br (Bromine), I (Iodine), P (phosphorous), S        (Sulfur) and N (Nitrogen);    -   orange-red silicate-based phosphors of general formula        (SrM1)₃Si(OD)₅:Eu where M1 is selected from the group comprising        Ba, Ca, Mg, Zn . . . and D is selected from the group comprising        F, Cl, S, and N (such a phosphor can be used for emitting light        in a wavelength range from green to yellow (580 to 630 nm));    -   red silicon nitride based phosphors of general formula of        (SrM1)Si₅N₈ where M1 is selected from the group comprising Sr,        Ca, Mg, and Zn;    -   red sulfate based phosphors having a general formula (SrM1)S        where M1 is selected from the group comprising Ca, Ba, and Mg;        and    -   green sulfate based phosphors having a general formula        (SrM1)(GaM2)₂S₄:Eu where M1 is selected from the group        comprising Ca, Ba, and Mg, and where M2 is selected from the        group comprising Al and In.

In addition to providing an LED lighting arrangement the inventionfurther provides a novel optical component and method of fabricationthereof.

In a further embodiment it is also envisaged to incorporate the phosphorwithin material comprising the optical component. Moreover the phosphorcan be provided as a layer on the encapsulating material.

1. A method of manufacturing an LED lighting arrangement, comprising:receiving an optical component having a diffusing material and at leastone photoluminescent material, wherein the diffusing material is lightdiffusive and the photoluminescent material is excitable by light of afirst wavelength range and which emits light of a second wavelengthrange; receiving an LED assembly that is operable to generate the lightof the first wavelength range, wherein the optical component having thediffusing and photoluminescent materials is mass produced separatelyfrom the LED assembly; and mounting the optical component to the LEDassembly to form the LED lighting arrangement.
 2. The method of claim 1,and further comprising selecting the optical component such that lightgenerated by the optical component combined with the light generated bythe LED assembly corresponds to light of a selected color.
 3. The methodof claim 1, and wherein the optical component comprises a transparentmaterial that incorporates at least one of the diffusing andphotoluminescent materials.
 4. The method of claim 1, and wherein theoptical component comprises a transparent material having a surface, andwherein the optical component is mass produced by depositing as a layeron the optical component at least one of the diffusing andphotoluminescent materials.
 5. The method of claim 4, and wherein thediffusing material is selected from the group consisting of: beingdeposited in a separate layer from the photoluminescent material layer;being deposited in the photoluminescent material layer; and combinationsthereof.
 6. The method of claim 4, and wherein at least one of thediffusing and photoluminescent material is deposited using an approachselected from the group consisting of: spraying; dropping; printing;painting; spin coating; and tape casting.
 7. The method of claim 4, andwherein at least one of the diffusing and photoluminescent materials isdeposited on at least a part of the inner or outer surfaces of thetransparent material and wherein the transparent material is selectedfrom the group consisting of: a planar surface, a convex surface, aconcave surface; a substantially spherical shell; a hollow cylinder; anda substantially hemispherical shell.
 8. An LED lighting arrangement,comprising: an optical component having a diffusing material and atleast one photoluminescent material, wherein the diffusing material islight diffusive and the photoluminescent material is excitable by lightof a first wavelength range and which emits light of a second wavelengthrange; and an LED assembly that is operable to generate the light of thefirst wavelength range, wherein the optical component having thediffusing material is mass produced separately from the LED assembly,wherein the optical component is mounted to the LED assembly to form theLED lighting arrangement.
 9. The lighting arrangement of claim 8, andwherein at least one of the diffusing and photoluminescent materials isincorporated in a transparent material comprising the optical component.10. The lighting arrangement of claim 8, and wherein at least one of thediffusing photoluminescent materials is provided as a layer on at leasta part of a surface of the component selected from the group consistingof: a concave surface; a convex surface; a planar surface; andcombinations thereof.
 11. The lighting arrangement of claim 8, andwherein at least one of the diffusing and photoluminescent materials isdeposited on at least a part of the inner or outer surfaces of thecomponent and wherein the component is selected from the groupconsisting of: a substantially spherical shell; a hollow cylinder; and asubstantially hemispherical shell.
 12. The lighting arrangement of claim8, and wherein the diffusing material is selected from the groupconsisting of: being provided in a separate layer from the at least onephotoluminescent material; being provided in the photoluminescentmaterial layer; and combinations thereof.
 13. The lighting arrangementof claim 8, and wherein the diffusing material is selected from thegroup consisting of: titanium dioxide; silica, alumina; and combinationsthereof.
 14. A component for a LED lighting arrangement, comprising: anoptical component having a diffusing material and at least onephotoluminescent material, wherein the diffusing material is lightdiffusive and the photoluminescent material is excitable by light of afirst wavelength range and which emits light of a second wavelengthrange, wherein the optical component is mass produced separately from anLED assembly to which the optical component is mountable.
 15. Thecomponent of claim 14, and wherein at least one of the diffusing andphotoluminescent materials is incorporated within a transparent materialcomprising the optical component.
 16. The component of claim 14, andcomprising a transparent material having a surface and wherein at leastone of the diffusing and photoluminescent materials is deposited as alayer on the surface of the transparent material.
 17. The component ofclaim 16, and wherein the diffusing material is selected from the groupconsisting of: being deposited in a separate layer from thephotoluminescent material layer; being deposited in the photoluminescentmaterial layer; and combinations thereof.
 18. The component of claim 16,and wherein at least one the diffusing and photoluminescent materials isdeposited using an approach selected from the group consisting of:spraying; dropping; printing; painting; spin coating; and tape casting.19. The component of claim 16, and wherein at least one of the diffusingand photoluminescent materials is deposited on at least a part of theinner or outer surfaces of the transparent material and wherein thetransparent material is selected from the group consisting of: a planarsurface; a concave surface; and a convex surface a substantiallyspherical shell; a hollow cylinder; and a substantially hemisphericalshell.
 20. The component of claim 14, and wherein the component isselected from the group consisting of: a lens; an optical window; and awaveguide.
 21. The component of claim 14, and wherein the at least onephotoluminescent material comprises a phosphor material selected fromthe group consisting of: a YAG-based phosphor; a silicate-basedphosphor; a nitride-based phosphor; a sulfate-based phosphor; andcombinations thereof.
 22. A method of manufacturing an opticalcomponent, comprising: fabricating an optical component having adiffusing material and at least one photoluminescent material, whereinthe diffusing material is light diffusive and the photoluminescentmaterial is excitable by light of a first wavelength range and whichemits light of a second wavelength range; wherein the optical componentis mass produced separately from an LED assembly that is operable togenerate the light of the first wavelength range, and the opticalcomponent is mountable to the LED assembly to form a LED lightingarrangement.
 23. The method of claim 22, and comprising receiving atransparent material having a planar surface; depositing the diffusingand photoluminescent materials on the planar surface; and separating thetransparent material into individual optical components.
 24. The methodof claim 23, and wherein the planar surface is common to multiplecomponents.
 25. The method of claim 22, and comprising incorporatingwithin a transparent material comprising the optical component at leastone of the diffusing and photoluminescent materials.
 26. The method ofclaim 22, and comprising receiving a transparent material having asurface and depositing as a layer on the optical component at least oneof the diffusing and photoluminescent materials.
 27. The method of claim26, and wherein the light diffusing material is selected from the groupconsisting of: being deposited in a separate layer from thephotoluminescent material layer; being deposited in the photoluminescentmaterial layer; and combinations thereof.
 28. The method of claim 26,and comprising depositing at least one the diffusing andphotoluminescent materials using an approach selected from the groupconsisting of: spraying; dropping; printing; painting; spin coating; andtape casting.
 29. The method of claim 26, and comprising depositing atleast one of the diffusing and photoluminescent materials on at least apart of the inner or outer surfaces of the transparent material andwherein the transparent material is selected from the group consistingof: a planar surface, a convex surface, a concave surface; asubstantially spherical shell; a hollow cylinder; and a substantiallyhemispherical shell.